The following article is a re-print of one which appeared as a supplement to the December 27, 1923, edition of the Licking Valley Courier published at West Liberty, Kentucky. It was written by Mr. D. F. Elam, a descendant of Joseph Cottle. It was entitled "A Kentucky Pioneer".

One of the earliest settlers of Morgan County was Joseph Cottle. Nothing is known of his parentage. He was apprenticed to a hatter by the name of George Gray until he was twenty years of age. He fought in the Revolutionary War under General Anthony Wayne (Mad Anthony), and fought Indians with Daniel Boone, and was at the Battle of Blue Licks. He married Nancy Nickell and lived on what is now the site of Lexington, KY.

He afterwards moved to Morgan County and settled about four miles above West Liberty on the Licking River and lived there until his death. The farm is still known as the Cottle farm. He reared nine children, five sons and four daughters. The sons were Uriah, Robert, Isaac, David N. and James. The daughter were Rebecca Fugett, Peggy Elam, Betsy Howard and Polly Elam. Polly Elam was the youngest of the girls and the mother of the writer of this sketch.

At the Battle of Blue Licks Joseph Cottle had one man shot down on one side of him and one on the other side. When the order was given to retreat one man ran very fast for about a half mile and then began to slow up. Cottle passed him shortly afterward, heard him, and looked back to see an Indian tommahawking him. Being at the foot of a mountain and the Indian in sight, he thought he was lost; but an officer came along on a fine horse. Cottle seized the horse by the tail and held on until out of danger. The officer threatened to cut his arm off if he did not release his hold, but he hung on until safe.

While Joseph Cottle was fighting Indians under Mad Anthony, he and another man were scouting and came upon an empty cabin, The climbed into the loft to sleep, but had not been there long until ten Indians came in and built a fire and sat down. In trying to hear what the Indians were saying the men loosened the boards in the loft and they fell down on the Indians, which so frightened them that they ran off, leaving their guns and game with Cottle and his companions. This is known in history as the "Battle of the Boards".

While staying with Gray, Cottle had a harrowing experience. One night Gray had gone from home, and in the night a huge negro came into the room. He was almost nude, but wore a large ring. He attacked Mrs. Gray. Although only ten Cottle went to the rescue of Mrs Gray, but could aid her but little. After leaving Mrs Gray apparently dead he turned his attention to the boy and had him between his knees beating him. Cottle bit him on the thigh so severely that he let him go and the boy escaped. Mrs. Gray recovered and the negro was caught and hanged, the bite on his thigh identifying him as being the woman's assailant.

His life was full of incident and excitement, living in those times of danger and hardships. One time when a boy he was treed by a pack of wolves and compelled to stay in a tree all night. Another time he was sent to bring in the horses and found them in possession of the Indians, waiting for him to come after them. Discovering this in time he escaped. At another time his dog, in front of him, detected an Indian behind a log awaiting him, and again he escaped.

His after life in Morgan was peacefully spent; and the Cottles of this section are principally his descendents, and are fine upstanding people.

Note:
I don't believe it has ever been proven that Joseph Cottle served in the Revolutionary War.  For another look at his story visit: Cottle Country